Back in the 90’s The Crow was THE romantic movie to beat all romantic movies. Though it was dark and bloody and violent and rainy (so rainy) and though the only really romantic stuff happened in flashbacks and visions, it still caused a generation of girls to swoon. How could they not, when the heart of the story was a man pulled from death to wreak graphically violent vengeance on those that had killed him and his one true love?
The plot of The Crow basically breaks down like this: Shelly and Eric are madly in love and going to get married on Halloween, which makes perfect sense when you see the dark gothic world they seem to live in. But not everyone is all about their happily-ever-after, and a gang of dirty thugs with stupid names take it upon themselves to leave the young couple dead dead dead before they ever get to say “I do.” One year later Eric pops out of the ground like a spring flower, only much paler and crazier. Led by a magic bird (because why not) he picks off the dirty thugs one by one, while also taking a bit of time to himself so he can play the guitar, dispense advice, hang out with a cop, and do some thematic art.
This is a film that could easily fall to campiness and silliness (the main character is running around in leather pants and electrical tape with his face painted up like a mime, after all, and spawned a billion Halloween and cosplay costumes) and what may save it is sparse dialogue with little Big Bad monologue-ing or unnecessary exposition and a great 90’s soundtrack. Nine Inch Nails, Stone Temple Pilots, Pantera, Rollins Band, and a haunting score by Graeme Revell elevate scenes (even the almost goofy ones) to more memorable and emotionally profound levels. The music matches the mood. It matches the main character’s anger and pain and longing. It matches the rainy city and the dirty buildings and the ugly people who populate this world.
The Crow is a dark movie, and not just in content. Most of the action takes place at night, in the rain, in a city that could beat Gotham for being gritty and crime-ridden and sunless. This is not a film for happy endings or happy characters or even happy music BUT it knows that about itself and it runs with it. It doesn’t try to be anything more than what it is – a tale of love and death and vengeance. The main character is not a super hero, even though he’s a walking talking dead man who bounces back from getting shot or stabbed or blown up. He isn’t looking for redemption and he isn’t taking out the bad guys to make the world a better place. He’s in it for revenge, pure and simple, and once he gets it he’s done.
It’s really such a simple premise. It’s really such a simple film. It starts with death (and Ernie Hudson) and it ends with death (and Ernie Hudson). Maybe that’s what makes this film work. As I said before it could so easily fall to campiness. It is a love story with all of the love bits taking place in flashbacks. You know that love story is important because the film tells you it is important. You see the main character’s pain when he first comes back from the dead. You see it when he touches other characters and gets flashes of his love’s last moments. You see it when he wails on his guitar in the rain on a roof and then smashes the instrument into tiny pieces. By the time Shelley and Eric have been properly avenged and the end credits begin to roll you know you have witnessed a great love and a great romance … even if you really just spent the last hour and a half watching people die in ever more violent and creative ways.
The Crow, 1994
Starring Brandon Lee, Ernie Hudson, Michael Wincott, Rochelle Davis
Directed by Alex Proyas
Written by James O’Barr (original comic book series), David J Schow (screenplay)
